The NFL wrapped up Week 5, and we are left with two undefeated teams. The New England Patriots rolled over Washington, and the unexpected San Francisco 49ers crushed the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. With Kansas City losing, we have one unbeaten left in each conference.

As we head into Week 6, we’re back to offer you advice for your NFL Survivor pools. The Philadelphia Eagles were the most popular pick of the week, and they won with ease over the New York Jets. The second most popular pick was the Kansas City Chiefs, who were stunned by the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are a solid team, but KC has been rolling, so seeing their offense shut down the way it was certainly raised some eyebrows. That helped clear out some pool entrants.

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This week, the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Oakland Riaders are all on bye. None has turned into a must-pick option in Survivor, so it should not have too huge an impact quite yet. In coming weeks, that will change and the degree of difficulty will increase for making your picks.

If you’ve never taken part in such a pool, it involves picking one team each week that you think will win. If your team wins in Week 1, you can make a pick in Week 2. If your team wins in Week 2, you can make a pick in Week 3, and so on. The catch is that you cannot pick the same team twice. You could use a heavy favorite in Week 1, but you would not have access to them later in the year if you’re alive in the closing weeks.

Whether you are in a single-elimination or double-elimination contest, there is plenty of strategy in determining which team you will take each week. DK Nation is here to help with a look at safe choices, value choices, and potential traps.

Last week, the safe picks were easy hits, but we missed on our Chiefs value pick. We did steer you properly with our trap picks as both the Bears and Chargers were beaten in Week 5. I took Philadelphia in one pool and Chicago in another. I deserve that latter loss.

On to Week 6 picks!

Thursday Night Football pick

New England Patriots over New York Giants

People might continue saving the Patriots, but it would not surprise me to see people start using the Patriots this week against a Giants team that is reeling. Daniel Jones has emerged as an intriguing option, but he could be without Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram. This can’t end well.

Safest picks

New England Patriots over New York Giants
Baltimore Ravens over Cincinnati Bengals

Aside from the obvious Patriots pick, the Ravens face an atrocious Bengals squad. Cincinnati has lost receivers A.J. Green and John Ross to injury, and just can’t get going. Coming off a loss to Arizona, it’s hard to see them bouncing back in Baltimore.

Best value picks

Baltimore Ravens over Cincinnati Bengals
Dallas Cowboys over New York Jets

Now might be the time to use the Ravens. Looking at their remaining opponents, their Week 15 home game against the New York Jets loses value once Sam Darnold returns. They face Pittsburgh at home in Week 17, but those games are always unpredictable. I’m not a fan of picking a divisional matchup, but the Bengals are really bad.

Meanwhile, Dallas is coming off a bad loss at home, but Dak Prescott is sufficiently good against bad defenses that they should wallop the Jets. Sam Darnold’s injury status will be worth monitoring, but even if he plays, I still think Dallas rolls in this one.

Trap pick

Green Bay Packers over Detroit Lions

The Packers are coming off a huge win over Dallas, while Detroit is flying under the radar after a tough loss to the Chiefs before a Week 5 bye. Green Bay probably wins this game, but you’ll be sweating it.

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